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Richard Loncraine’s The Haunting of Julia is something of a film maudit. Adapted from Peter Straub’s first horror novel, the film was shot around London in late 1976 under the title Full Circle (as its title card still reads), then made the festival rounds throughout 1977, before barely being released in England in 1978. It belatedly turned up in the U.S. three years later, boasting the more genre-friendly title The Haunting of Julia but still failed to find much of an audience. A lot of this has to do with some significant stylistic differences between Loncraine’s film and the wave of slasher movies that dominated the horror market at the time: Above all, its unhurried pace and relatively restrained depiction of violence stand in stark contrast to the slasher’s relentless plotting and unfettered brutality.

From its disturbing opening scene to its unforgettable final shot, The Haunting of Julia...

With a long and successful career spanning genres, Mia Farrow may not be considered a horror icon, but she’s certainly deserving of the title in terms of quality over quantity. The two genre efforts in which she starred are exemplary horror movies of their respective eras; while Rosemary’s Baby has been widely lauded since its release in 1968 (Roman Polanski’s personal life controversies notwithstanding), The Haunting of Julia – known internationally as Full Circle – is a hidden gem ripe for rediscovery.

Based on Peter Straub’s 1975 novel Julia, the 1977 British film is directed by Richard Loncraine and written by Dave Humphries (Quadrophenia), with Xtro filmmaker Harry Bromley Davenport receiving a “based on an adaptation by” credit. Although ostensibly a haunted house tale, its ambiguity also allows it to be viewed as a dramatic character study. Scream Factory shines a well-needed light on the atmospheric chiller with a new 4K Uhd + Blu-ray edition.

"She had no one to play with for thirty years." Never officially released on Blu-ray or DVD in the US, Scream Factory is resurrecting The Haunting of Julia (aka Full Circle) on a Collector's Edition 4K Uhd / Blu-ray this April that's brimming with bonus features, including a new audio commentary and interviews with the cast and crew:

From the Press Release: Based on the novel Julia by Peter Straub, the atmospheric supernatural thriller The Haunting of Julia (aka Full Circle) has developed a cult following amongst film fans for its intelligent yet deeply chilling take on a modern ghost story.

Never before available on DVD or Blu-ray in the US, this long-sought after film will be available on physical media for the first time in decades as a 4K Uhd+Blu-ray combo pack on April 18, 2023 from Scream Factory. The Haunting of Julia features a new 4K restoration from the original...